Madeira at half term - reassure me!

[Rosegarden85]

Hello. We usually go to the Canaries this time of year but I've been uncharacteristically spontaneous and booked flights to Madeira for half term (me, DH and DDs age 7 and 11). Now I keep reading how the weather is really not good there in Feb, you can't swim/sunbathe and torturing myself reading reviews by people who've not had a good time. Basically wishing I'd stayed safe and booked Canaries. Sorry to be a misery I know it's a great privilege to be able to go on holiday at all, I'm just feeling the responsibility of the decision I guess (PMS not helping!) Any positive experiences of Madeira this time of year? Or survival advice if it's raining and cold? Thanks xx

They have web cams around the island so you can see the weather. You could try googling them.

Forecast is showing 21c/22c and dry for next week.

I've only ever been in May or June. May was chilly and we even had jumper and jeans days in June too. The weather is usually better at lower levels around the south coast. If you want to do trips up the mountains or even up the cable car to the exotic gardens, you'll need to wrap up and take waterproofs. Same if you do the North coast.

My friend is there this week and has sent plenty of photos of blue sky, short sleeve clothes and sunshine. It was drizzly on one way apparently, but it has been warm. She is in the north too, and the south typically tends to be a bit better (or less changeable at least). For a relatively small island, the weather can differ a lot from place to place, so it's worth bearing that in mind too.

You probably won't have the weather for sitting round a pool and sunbathing, but there is so much to see in Madeira that I'd get out and explore rather than sunbathe anyway!

Canaries aren't guaranteed either, I went pre Christmas and it was 21/22 and lots of cloud, my parents have been more recently and it was 26/27 bright sunshine. Friends in Madeira currently are posting sunny skies but she's wearing a jacket at night.

Tbh we're not sitting round the pool types any way and we are hiring a car so able to explore. You're reminding me why I thought booking was a good idea thank you 🙂

Thank you so much for your replies. The weather you describe sounds like a British summer (never be without a raincoat!) I think Canaries would've been the relaxing option but Madeira we can have just as good a time but will need to put more effort in (which is probably why I'm anxious at this stage!)

DustyLee123 it was looking at the webcams the other day that set off my doubts 😅

mitogoshi good point about weather in Canaries and excellent intel re the current weather in Madeira thank you 😊

TheTripThatWasnt I'm putting all my faith in microclimates 😂

thenightsky thank you 🙂

We've been to Madeira a couple of times in February. We've always managed to sit outside in the sun for lunch and swim in the sea for at least a couple of the days of the holiday. We've been to the canaries at similar times of year and not experienced significantly different weather.

I was there last February and managed to sunbathe and go in the pool some days, other days were a bit chilly, but we went out for days

DataBatman
PickledPurplePickle
Thank you that's really reassuring to hear 😊

I went to Maderia at Easter (start of April from memory) and we had very mixed weather. Some days were warm and pleasant for strolling around, others were hot and fine by lying by the pool and one day we had crazy amounts of rain followed by high winds.

Went last Feb. Did go in the sea and the pool but it took some acclimatising - definitely not Med in the summer temperatures!
We had time lounging in the sun each day, but also enjoyed how the temperature was mild enough to explore each day without being too hot.
I wore shorts every day. Just a light coat in the evening.

Early for Madeira, but I wish you sunshine, enjoy.